Tag Archives: GM

Bob Lutz Credits GM Engineers for Success, Slams Eric Whitacre’s New Book

Auto industry journalists got the chance to show their snarky streak this week in response to Ed Whitacre’s book, American Turnaround: Reinventing AT&T and GM and the Way We Do Business in the USA. To say that some people are skeptical of Whitacre’s grand claims is being charitable.

Perhaps the most notable (and entertaining) news piece was Bob Lutz’s Forbes piece “How Ed Whitacre Saved GM In Just 10 Months, And Other Fables.” For readers unfamiliar with Bob Lutz’s career, he has a long history with GM. He started his career with GM in 1963 working in sales and marketing positions. He left the company in December 1971 to work in senior management positions for BMW, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler among others, and he eventually came back to GM in 2001. When he retired in 2010, he was the vice chairman of General Motors.

It is fair to say that Bob Lutz is a man who knows GM from top to bottom, and he has no tolerance for any one person taking all the credit for GM’s turnaround or using it to peddle a simplistic business strategy. In his Forbes op-ed, Lutz wrote, “Ed Whitacre, who served as GM’s chief for exactly ten months…spent much of his time wandering around uncovering employees who were insufficiently entrepreneurial, cautious, or didn’t have enough ‘can-do’ spirit…If you believe any of this, I need to talk to you about ocean front property in Nebraska.”

Thankfully, Lutz takes a break from zingers for a few paragraphs to recognize who he thinks should take credit for GM’s turnaround. He mentions the Obama administration and his “fix-it team” including Steve Rattner, Ron Bloom, and Harry Wilson, and he points out that the recovery couldn’t have happened without their work on the financial restructuring of GM. Even more commendable, Lutz gave credit to the engineers and designers behind the 2009 thru 2012 models, the people who created the products that saved GM. At this point, he delivers a line that really sums up his entire piece. “WE did every one of those winning products for which some 90-day wonders would now like to be retroactively credited.” Ed Whitacre certainly had some impact on GM’s recovery. It would be silly to deny it, but for him to claim the credit for GM’s turnaround without also mentioning these designers and engineers is dishonest and wrong.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Have you read Whitacre’s book? Do you plan on reading it, and do you agree with Bob Lutz’s assessment of GM’s turnaround? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car today? Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Auto Loan: January Auto Sales Surpass Expectations

We predicted it. With reports of lower interest rates and more flexible loan lengths, we predicted that January would be a good month for the auto industry, even coming off of such a strong year.

As it turned out, January was a great month.

January is done and the numbers are coming in, and U.S. auto sales were up 14 percent. It is much better than analysts were predicting, and these gains weren’t limited to one type or model of vehicle. Large pickups, small cars, and crossovers alike all saw increased sales in January.

Among the individual automakers, Toyota had a 27 percent increase. Ford’s U.S. sales had a 22 percent increase. GM had a 47 percent increase on Cadillac, and sales for their full-sized pickups increased 32 percent. Meanwhile, Chrysler’s car sales went up 50 percent with strong showings by the Dodge Avenger, Dodge Dart, and Fiat 500 line.

Automakers are ready to keep these sales numbers going with promotions and deals changing monthly. Now is a great time to get into a new or used vehicle. If you’re ready to get into that car today, Approved Loan Store is ready to help you. Good credit, bad credit, or no credit, we will work with you to get the car you want at terms you can afford.

Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and get more auto news and buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image courtesy of renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

CONSUMER ALERT: Recall on Certain 2012 GM Auto Models

A few days ago, GM and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a recall of some 2012 GM vehicles over safety concerns with the vehicles’ air bags.

The affected vehicle models are the 2012 Buick Verano, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, and the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. According to the recall report, there are issues with the driver side frontal air bag where the air bag might not deploy in a crash.

GM is replacing the steering wheel airbag coil free of charge for all affected vehicles, and while GM will be contacting all affected drivers, any owners who are feeling pro-active can contact GM at 1-800-521-7300.

You can read the full NHTSA recall report here.

Get the latest auto news and consumer alerts like recalls and special deals by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube! Are you ready to get into a new or used car today? Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here!

CONSUMER ALERT: GM Recalls Trucks, Vans for Roll-Away Problem

Over the weekend, GM announced a recall of approximately 69,000 2013-model full-size trucks and vans including the Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado.

According to General Motors, there has been a problem with these vehicles shifting out of park and rolling away. They believe the problem could be defective transmission interlocks, but GM has also said that the problem could be due to a fractured park-lock cable or a deformed steering –column lock-actuator gear.

Recalled vehicles include:

Cadillac Escalade
Chevrolet Avalanche
Chevrolet Express
Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Tahoe
GMC Savana
GMC Sierra
GMC Yukon

Fortunately, most of the vehicles affected by the recall are still on dealer lots since they are 2013 models, but any car owners affected by the recall will be contacted by GM about replacing the vehicle’s steering column for no charge. If you think your vehicle might be affected and have not heard from GM, you can call 1-800-630-2438 for Chevrolet vehicles, 1-866-982-2339 for Cadillacs, and 1-866-996-9463 for GMC vehicles.

For the latest consumer alerts, auto news, and car buying tips, be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube. Looking for a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you into a car you want at rates you can afford! Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here.

New Car Financing: 2013 Chevy Cruze Introduces Safer “Smart” Airbags

When looking for a new or used car, the price, features, and comfort are all taken into consideration, but at the end of the day, I want to know that the car I am buying will keep me safe.

With that in mind, GM has announced that the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze will come with a “smart” airbag as a standard feature. Typical airbags can actually cause injury to the driver if they are not seated the proper distance from the front airbag, but these new airbags use a flexible vent so that the driver’s momentum will push the air out.

GM General Director of Vehicle Safety Gay Kent has praised the new airbag as a “smart way to manage crash forces,” and GM is marketing it as an “industry first” in safety technology.

When it comes to airbag injuries, it is important to remember that airbags are most effective when passengers are wearing their seat belts. The large majority of airbag injuries occur when the driver or passenger was not wearing a seat belt, and even with the new technology in Chevy’s airbag system, it will not work properly if seat belts are not worn.

Are you ready to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help you! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get you into a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Auto Loan: 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra to Offer Cloth Heated Seats

What is the worst part of winter driving? Some people would say slick roads, scraping snow and ice off the windows, or enduring Christmas music on every single radio station. For me, the worst part of winter driving was that after I cleared off my windshield and jumped in my car, the seat was always freezing. Even after turning up the heat, it felt like my car seat was the last part of my car to warm up.

Apparently I’m not the only one who hates cold winter car seats. This week, GM unveiled the 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, and in addition to better fuel economy, new engines, and knobs that are easier to grip while wearing gloves, the Silverado and Sierra will have cloth heated seats.

Cloth heated seats might not seem like that big a deal, but most automakers pair heated seats with leather interiors. The reason why most automakers don’t offer cloth heated seats is because it is more expensive to manufacture than leather heated seats. As a result, car shoppers usually have to make a choice between heated seats or a cloth interior.

I wonder if GM’s decision to offer cloth heated seats in the Silverado and Sierra will lead to more car buyers demanding that other automakers start offering it as an option. Readers, what do you think? If you could get cloth heated seats in your car, would you do it? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get more auto news and buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Veteran’s Day: GM Military Discount Now More Inclusive

Last Sunday was Veteran’s Day, but even before Sunday, General Motors was honoring our veterans by announcing an expansion on their current military discount.

For years, GM has offered discounts on most Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC models for active duty, reservists, and retired service members and their spouses. Starting this weekend, however, the program will be expanded to veterans within a year after discharge. Linda Stouffer, who serves as GM’s marketing manager for vehicle service programs, explained that the expansion would help include more returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and emphasized that the program is “just one way” that GM thanks America’s servicemen and women.

In addition to the military discount, GM supports Cell Phones for Soldiers, Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, and numerous other employment initiatives for returning soldiers. They are also sponsors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative, a nationwide program that sponsors hundreds of hiring fairs every year.

If you want to learn more about GM’s program and whether you qualify, go to their military website here, and if you are looking to get into a new or used car, Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we are ready to get you into the car you want at terms you can afford. Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

GM Hires 10,000 Computer Professionals to Develop Software, New Technology

American automakers are riding high in 2012 with sales stronger than ever, especially for new models like the Chevrolet Spark. While this is great news, there was even better news coming out of GM that will ensure a bright future for American automakers.

For years, many American automakers have paid outside companies for the right to use software and other new technology in their vehicles. They have relied on others to dictate the future of automobiles instead of doing it themselves. Ultimately, they have ended up paying out the nose for technology they could have (and should have) developed with their own resources. It has been a waste of money and a waste of great American talent.

GM has realized that to remain competitive, they need to develop new information technology and quickly. Otherwise, they will get left behind and wind up exactly where they were only a few years ago. In a bold pro-active move, GM has announced they will be hiring 10,000 new computer professionals. These hires will work at GM’s new Information Technology Innovation Center in Austin, Texas, GM’s computer center in Warren, Michigan, and two other sites that are expected to be announced soon.

GM’s Chief Information Officer Randy Mott had high hopes for these new hires and their work, stating, “We’re currently seeking the next generation of game-changers to help us usher in a new age of automotive innovation.” Many have called the move risky and wonder if it will pay off for GM. Paying for 10,000 new computer professionals is quite a hefty bill, but considering 2012’s strong auto sales and Japan’s return after the tsunami, the time is now or never. GM will have to put in the money now and take advantage of the opportunity available to them or lose their ability to compete, again.

Are you looking to get in a new or used vehicle today? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you in the car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest news and auto buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

When Customers Complain Online, Car Companies Listen

Every day, disgruntled consumers take to the internet to complain about everything under the sun. From the recent hilarious Bic Pens for Women debacle to the heartbreaking story of Katie Fisher and Progressive car insurance, American consumers have no trouble expressing their uncensored feelings online. What they might not know, though, is that when it comes to car forums and review sites, the big dogs of the American auto industry are paying attention.

First reported by the Detroit News, car companies are starting to use internet outreach to contact upset customers and resolve their problems. Chrysler’s online customer service unit has contacted almost a half-million customers in the past year alone. They’ve also engaged in online forums and auto news and review websites, posting over 3,000 messages. GM has similarly started their own customer service unit that concentrates on their online outreach across over 100 online forums. So far, the new online outreach has been very successful for both companies. Pietro Gorlier, president of Mopar brand service, parts, and customer care at Fiat-Chrysler, had a lot of praise for the online community because, as he put it, “[T]hat is where the enthusiast communities meet.”

At Approved Loan Store, we have striven from the very beginning to provide many outlets for our customers to connect with us online and provide feedback. It is one of the reasons why we have been so successful. We have listened to what people want in their car buying experience and made it easier from filling out the application to getting the keys to a new or used car. Anyone can go to our website and see the hundreds of customer testimonials, and we want car buyers to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, or subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube to get the latest auto news. The big dogs like Chrysler and GM might be just now getting on-board with social media, but at Approved Loan Store, we created a better car buying experience from the beginning by listening to you!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

GM Announces Major Breakthrough in Electric Car Batteries

This might be only the second full week of August, but already it is the month of hybrid and electric cars. Earlier this week, we told you about new technology out of Middle Tennessee State University that will transform normal vehicles into fuel-efficient hybrid cars. Yesterday, GM continued the trend by making a major announcement about the future of electric cars.

GM CEO Dan Akerson announced at an employee meeting Thursday that there has been a breakthrough in the lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars. Right now, the Chevrolet Volt can go for about 35 miles per electric charge with a gas motor that kicks in if the battery power runs out. Akerson announced that the new batteries would be able to travel 100 miles per charge, nearly three times its current power, and he teased that the batteries would soon be able to travel up to 200 miles per charge. He called the increased battery power a “game changer” in the industry.

Even with this great news, though, GM is still being cautious and keeping their business in mind while exploring hybrids and electric cars. If it turns out that they can’t make 200-mile batteries, they are also working on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and natural gas vehicles. Akerson compared focusing solely on electric cars to putting “all of our chips on one bet” and assured GM employees and the public that GM would explore all of their options.

If GM came out with electric cars that could go 200 miles on one charge, would you take one for a test drive? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

GM’s new high-powered electric cars are still a ways off, but Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a new or used car today. Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to help you! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!